Hollywood comes out for Kerry.
Hooray. And soap opera and dangdut stars entertain election crowds here. So, what's different? What's new? Bugger all as far as I can tell. For a deep and meaningful analysis of the ramifications of the Indonesian elections, look elsewhere.

A news item in today's Jakarta Post says that not even American oil execs are anticipating civil unrest caused by exitable excitable crowds of Indo electors. Blasé? Moi?

The election won't upset tourists either. Following the introduction of a pay-on-arrival tourist visa for those from privileged 21 countries ~ if you're not, visit an Indonesian embassy abroad to get your visa, tourist arrivals are down 10.27% in February. The ostriches in the government say there's no correlation. Oh yeah? So, where are the backpackers then? Why is the hotel occupancy rate down? And why is unemployment up?

I can't say that any movie has changed my life. (A book, Dice Man, once nearly did, but that's another story which I'm never going to relate in public.) With pirated DVDs available here for Rp.10,000 ( less than £1, more than $1), I'm building up a nice library of films I enjoy rewatching. One I'd love to get hold of is Belle De Jour because I've never worked out the ending. Now someone has adopted the title as his/her blog nôm de plume, and folks are getting in a lather about his/her identity. Given the many levels of 'reality' in the film, I would suggest that this blogger's tale of everyday prostitution is totally fictional. Oh, and I've yet to read it. If you want to, I suggest that you try linking from the Guardian's weblog section.

The Sixth StoneIan Stewart loved R'n'B and honky tonk piano as played by Meade Lux Lewis. Forget the controversies, the drugs, the rumours about Mars bars and remember the music. The Rolling Stones were a London band and I was there-abouts.